He married Albany native Margarita Cuyler
in 1714. Over the next twenty-four years, the union produced twelve
children who were baptized at the Allbany Dutch
church where both parents were members, frequent baptism sponsors,
and where Dirck served as a deacon.

Following a family formula for success, this Albany
mainstay was known as an Indian
trader. In 1715, he was named "Inspector of Skins." During the
1720s, he held a provincial appointment as "farmer of the excise"
(tax collector). He also served in the Albany militia.

In 1716, he followed his father to the city council - being elected assistant alderman for the third ward. In 1722, he was elected alderman. In 1728, he was commissioned recorder of the city by the provincial governor. After serving many years as alderman, Indian commissioner, recorder, and member of the provincial Assembly from 1728 to 1737, Dirck Ten Broeck was appointed mayor of Albany in 1746. He served two terms.

Inheriting substantial real estate from his father, Dirck Ten Broeck expanded
those holdings in Albany and beyond. In 1722, he sold a portion of
his Pearl Street property to the Dutch church. During the three decades
of peace, he was involved in the cutting
and sawing of lumber on his wilderness property. During that time,
he also helped oversee Albany's interests at Schaghticoke.

In November 1737, "Dirck Wesselse" witnessed the wiill of an Albany neighbor.

Calling himself an "Albany merchant," Dirck Ten Broeck filed a will
in 1748. It devised his estate to Margarita during her life and then
divided his substantial holdings among seven promising progeny. Dirck
Ten Broeck died in January 1751 and was buried beneath the Dutch church.
He had just passed his sixty-fourth birthday. His widow
enjoyed the estate until her death in 1783!

notes

The life of Dirck Ten Broeck is CAP
biography number 33. Several contemporaries of
the same name then were living in colonial New York. This profile
is derived chiefly from family and community-based
resources.